Satellite Images Reveal Scale of Israel’s Invasion into Northern Gaza
Recent satellite imagery has captured the substantial scale of Israel’s military advance into northern Gaza, with hundreds of armored vehicles pushing miles past the border into urban areas on the outskirts of Gaza City. The images, taken by commercial satellite company Planet Labs on Monday morning, provide a clear picture of the invading force and the destruction it has caused.
Israel’s ground assault, though not as rapid and overwhelming as anticipated by analysts, has nonetheless made significant progress. The armored vehicles can be seen cutting through open fields and amassing in urban spaces, with Israeli vehicles observed as far south as the Al Karama neighborhood, north of Gaza City. Previous videos released by the Israeli military had shown tanks operating near the border area.
The imagery also depicts the extensive damage caused by airstrikes, with nearby buildings heavily damaged or completely destroyed. The craters left behind by airstrikes and shelling are visible throughout the area, some even in homes and on roads, while apartment blocks have been flattened.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, more than 8,000 people, including numerous children, have been killed across Gaza since Israel began retaliatory airstrikes in response to a Hamas attack on October 7.
The specific area shown in the satellite images is just one of three directions in which Israeli tanks and other vehicles have moved toward Gaza City. Lines of armored vehicles have been spotted on the main road running north to south of Gaza, as well as in the northeastern corner of the strip, in Beit Hanoun. However, Israeli forces have chosen to stay on the fringes of Gaza City, avoiding direct combat and keeping military options open.
The satellite images also reveal the destruction of farmland in Al Karama, which was used as a gathering point for dozens of armored vehicles. Extensive tank tracks provide evidence of their movement in the area.
Further south, the images showcase a series of destroyed buildings, along with additional craters and military vehicles.
The scale of Israel’s advance into Gaza, as revealed by the satellite images, underscores the severity of the ongoing conflict and its devastating impact on the region.